A mufti in Russia's volatile North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia says unknown assailants blew up his car while he was on a visit to Moscow.

Salekh Khamkhoyev said that his armored Mercedes was destroyed in the Russian capital early in the morning of June 29. He was not in the car at the time of the attack.

Khamkhoyev, who is the envoy of Russia's Council of Muftis in Ingushetia, alleged that the same "criminal gang" that opened fire on his home in January 2013 in Nazran was responsible for the attack against his vehicle.

According to Khamkhoyev, the group has tried to extort money from him.

Moscow police officials confirmed that a Mercedes had been been set alight early on June 29.

Religious clerics preaching traditional moderate Islam, as well as military personnel and local officials, are often targeted by Islamic extremists in Russia's North Caucasus.